Chapter 173: Scott Tang Warns Me!

Chapter 173: Scott Tang Warns Me!

While waiting inside my private trailer between shooting scenes, my mind wandered back to the incredible choice I made last Sunday night. Deciding to have Hinata join Hana and me in our private bedroom had yielded an unforgettable evening. Not only was the experience memorable, but Hana had enthusiastically taken the time to give Hinata detailed pointers on how to provide me with absolute, breathless pleasure.

There was only one tiny flaw in my otherwise masterfully executed arrangement. Kim had caught wind of the plan and insisted on sleeping inside the exact same room. She didn’t physically participate in the bedroom activities, but she refused to leave. Instead, she stayed up on the edge of the mattress, attentively watching the chaotic, uninhibited display to expand her knowledge of exactly what pleases my senses.

Ultimately, I fell asleep completely drained with three beautiful women resting securely in my arms. Kim spent the night hugging my waist like a pillow, leaving a tiny puddle of drool directly on my stomach. All things considered, it was an awesome weekend.

My thoughts shifted toward tomorrow's grand opening of the curvy street track at the brand-new Lang-Lee Raceway. Speaking of the Lang family enterprise, I am currently positioned inside the sprawling Lang Super Mall, actively shooting a series of casual date scenes alongside Ana Zi.

"Ana Zi! I am your absolute biggest fan!" a voice boomed from the crowd.

I glanced past the security barricade, noting that the shouting woman was incredibly heavy. The wording of her declaration carried a humorous, double meaning.

"We love you, Ana! We can't wait for your next film to drop!" another group shouted.

I tracked the voices to a nearby couple. Both of them were dressed head-to-toe in dramatic, gothic vampire attire, creating a thoroughly creepy aesthetic under the mall's bright skylights.

"I absolutely love your game show, Miss Zi!" a young man yelled, waving enthusiastically.

Ana offered a radiant, practiced smile, waving back to her fans with effortless celebrity charm. The last fan was referencing the wildly popular game show she hosts, which had officially launched back in January.

The production functions almost exactly like the classic show from my past life, Family Feud. Ana had previously told me that hosting it was a real blast.

The broadcast is basically a specialized version of the format, pitting a prominent man and his collective lovers directly against a rival harem group.

The show has earned a permanent spot in my own wives' television lineup because the entertainment value is top-tier popcorn drama.

However, Kate always makes grumbling, critical comments regarding Ana's revealing wardrobe choices and her fake, over-the-top public friendliness. Kate looks incredibly cute whenever she turns into a sad, highly competitive, jealous puppy.

I can easily visualize Ana sitting in her own luxury apartment, watching entertainment news broadcasts while aggressively squeezing a voodoo doll crafted in Kate's likeness out of pure frustration. The two actresses have absolutely no idea how remarkably similar their personalities actually are.

Right now, the crew has blocked off a massive section of the crowded food court for our scene. It is just Ana and me sitting at a plastic table, casually sharing Big Burger meals. Jean Jia had insisted the product placement would serve as excellent publicity for our movie. Watching her enthusiastically eat the fast food between our active takes had driven the gathering fans into an absolute frenzy.

On a personal level, I am genuinely enjoying the time spent chilling with Ana. We have grown significantly closer as genuine friends over these past two weeks of intense acting.

I finally understand exactly why high-profile movies, music videos, and celebrity productions constantly spark passionate flings and relationships. The intense physical closeness and the deep emotional bonds forged on a closed set naturally bleed into reality.

Unfortunately, the exact moment the heavy studio lights cut out and a movie wraps production, reality reasserts itself. The temporary relationships inevitably fracture, and everyone simply moves on to their next individual project.

For this specific afternoon shot, I am wearing my character's standard attire, consisting of classic blue jeans, a rugged white t-shirt, and a heavy brown leather jacket. Ana is dressed in a flowing white sundress paired with a wide-brimmed sunhat, despite the fact that we are filming completely indoors.

Don't ask me to explain the logic; the executive producer simply insisted that Lilith's eccentric vampire fashion dictated the look.

Realizing the security detail has successfully kept the fans at a distance, leaving us relatively alone, Ana leans next to me at the table to ask a burning question.

"Hey, Rick, if my presence had actually been accepted by your wives, would you have ever considered genuinely dating me?"

I use a paper napkin to wipe a faint trace of Big Burger grease from my lips, looking directly into her vibrant green eyes to deliver an honest answer. "If you were just a normal woman from the beginning, absolutely not. But looking at you as the elite actress, and discovering the real woman you are behind the scenes? Yeah, I would have. Sometime around November, I finally realized you weren't nearly as terrible of a person as I originally thought. I allowed myself to become jaded by your scandalous public reputation, which had completely shattered my perception of your incredible acting skills. Plus, right behind Kate, you are easily one of my top five favorite actresses on the planet. I apologize if my answer sounds far too blunt or rude."

Ana merely smiled at my unfiltered honesty, leaning in closer to confide a deeply buried secret from her past. "Rick, you are the first humanbeing I have ever shared this with, but the massive media scandal involving me and Sam Sun was entirely true. I was forcefully taken to the casting couch just to secure my very first major movie role. I had never even been with a man prior to that night. To be completely honest, I haven't experienced real intimacy since that one time, either. I've made out with a few prominent men in the industry, but that was purely me trying to locate a powerful protector who could ensure I was never taken advantage of again by predators like that Alex and Sam pair."

I keep my expression perfectly neutral, choosing not to reveal that I already uncovered every single detail of her casting couch history with Quick-Shooter Sam months ago through my own private hacking and background checks. The fact that she is choosing to be completely vulnerable with me means her affection runs far deeper than I anticipated. It is a genuine shame my wives firmly drew the line against allowing her to join our household.

"However, I'm not telling you any of this to purposefully tug at your heartstrings, Rick," she continues softly, her gaze dropping to her lap. "I just... I truly think you are the only real friend I have in this city. Does that make sense to you? I will never go against Boss Long's explicit wishes, but it's perfectly fine if we remain close friends, right?"

Her confession successfully tugs at my heartstrings anyway. Against my better judgment and my usual calculated restraint, I choose to follow my instincts and voice my true feelings.

"Friends? Yes, absolutely," I reply, my tone firm and reassuring. "I think of you in the exact same light. Furthermore, my future plans involve far more than just acting. I am preparing to execute massive operations that stretch far beyond the territory of the Fire Birds and Eurasia. You don't ever have to go searching for a powerful man to support your career, Ana. I will secretly protect you from behind the scenes. If you ever find yourself needing financial backing, simply let me know, and I will handle it. This is the extent of what I can offer you under our current boundaries as friends, but yes, we are friends. Just promise me one specific thing in this life."

Ana's eyelashes fluttered slightly, whether from the emotional weight of my words or from a stray speck of dust in the food court air. "Rick, name it. I promise to do whatever you ask."

"For as long as you enjoy being a star, simply remain an entertainer," I tell her, offering a genuine smile. "Keep appearing on television, on the big screen, or even just on the evening news to bring pure joy to your fans. I will always be a fan."

A soft, relieved sigh escapes her lips. "That is honestly all I have ever wanted from this industry, to be genuinely admired and loved. I will keep pushing my career forward, even if it means staying as a game show host. Simply knowing that you are a genuine fan of mine is more than enough to keep me going. But for the record, I am still going to be incredibly jealous of Kate. That fact will never change. It is entirely unfair that she managed to catch your eye by doing something completely ridiculous, sigh."

Amused by her lingering bitterness, I point a finger at her holding my arm at the table. "And are you trying to claim the great Ana Zi has never done anything incredibly stupid? Trust me, you and Kate are practically identical, ha-ha!"

To the surrounding media lenses and the gathering crowd, it simply looked as though I was playfully teasing and making fun of my gorgeous co-star. Her sudden, angry pout was a rare, endearing sight for the fans to capture.

Later that evening, I quietly initiated a private wire transfer, depositing five million directly into her personal bank account. For some reason, I knew her pride would prevent her from ever asking me for financial assistance. Thankfully, Lucy didn't scold me for the massive expenditure. In fact, she only teased me over the encrypted line about possessing far too much of a bleeding heart for beautiful women.

The following afternoon, the atmosphere at the Lang-Lee Raceway was electric.

The only lovers accompanying me to this action-packed event were Hana, Kate, and Nichole. Zoe handled the driving duties for our primary transport, navigating my luxury SUV through the heavy traffic with Kate, Jean Jia, and Nichole riding in the back.

I personally handled the drive to the facility behind the wheel of my brand-new Demon vehicle. I had completely removed the rear passenger seats prior to the trip to shed excess weight and maximize track performance.

Jean Jia had tagged along specifically to drag Kate out for a series of high-profile photo opportunities alongside me, maximizing the promotional reach for our upcoming movie. Hana's presence at the track was an absolute given.

Nichole, on the other hand, had expressed a genuine interest in watching me compete in this specific street-circuit format. The traditional, boring downhill racing structure had simply never caught her eye, but this professional track layout had thoroughly piqued her curiosity. Plus, she explicitly mentioned that she wanted to use the high-profile venue to publicly show off her love for me.

All three of my ladies looked absolutely stunning, wearing matching white, shoulderless dresses that cut off right at the knees. They had even styled their hair into matching high ponytails to present a flawless front of household unity to the public. There are certain aspects of their shared sisterhood that I will never fully comprehend, but deciphering their fashion logic isn't my job. My only responsibility is to compliment their beauty and keep a charming smile plastered across my face while doing it.

Linda had desperately wanted to attend the grand opening, considering the raceway was a massive Lang family venture. However, given that she was slightly over two weeks away from our baby girl popping out, she didn't want to navigate the dense, chaotic crowds of such a massive event. Instead, she chose to stay comfortable at home, watching the entire broadcast stream live on television.

Luke Fu was currently stationed inside the main pavilion, taking absolute charge of the Fire Birds' underground operations, which included running our massive, highly lucrative gambling booth.

The rival syndicates had also established their own covert operations across the venue, managing illegal betting rings, high-end prostitution, and private executive meetings. However, Brenda Lang naturally commanded the lion's share of the commercial business here, given that the entire facility was a Lang family enterprise. Furthermore, she was kicking back a massive percentage of the overall profits directly to George and the main Lang clan hierarchy.

Our primary group stood directly at the grand entrance of the facility, which was strategically located in the industrial zone situated just south of the main Docks on the western edge of Star City. The specific geography had been chosen to mitigate the intense noise pollution generated by the high-horsepower engines.

Interestingly, the massive Disneyland resort complex was situated just a few miles south of our current position. On a side note, I am scheduled to begin filming scenes on location there next week.

Hana stood at the center of the track entrance, holding a pair of ridiculously oversized ceremonial scissors while Head Lang delivered an opening speech to the gathering fans and press regarding the track's architecture and future concepts.

My sexy Nichole held onto my left arm with a firm, possessive grip, looking exactly like a dangerous schoolgirl fantasy come to life. On my right arm, Kate stood tall, keeping her signature Luna Yue smile firmly locked in place for the flashing cameras of our adoring fans.

"I saw Scott standing in the crowd," Nichole whispered, her voice dropping to a cautious murmur. "He was actively watching our entire group."

I offered a brief, reassuring nod, entirely unbothered by his sudden presence. I knew with absolute certainty that if he harbored a single ounce of ill intent, the hidden operatives monitoring the area would strike him down before he could take a step.

Mei and Hinata were currently on standby, enjoying a relaxed day off while remaining fully integrated into the event. Both women wore casual, plain clothes to blend seamlessly into the dense crowd.

I had provided them with a massive stack of spending money, explicitly ordering them to try everything and simply focus on having fun. They were both fitted with discrete earpieces, meaning they could hear my voice instantly through my hidden microphone if an emergency arose.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

A thunderous round of applause erupted as Hana cleanly cut the thick silk ribbon. The look dancing within her vibrant eyes mirrored a young child waking up on Christmas morning to discover the exact air rifle she had been begging for all year.

A sharp chuckle escaped my lips as I watched the track officials desperately attempt to retrieve the oversized ceremonial scissors from her grasp. Hana flatly refused to relinquish the tool, pivoting on her heel to sprint back toward me while clutching her newly stolen trophy.

The primary staff member merely shook his head in defeat, abandoning the pursuit to focus on real work.

"Look, honey, I secured something brand-new to hang directly on my bedroom wall!" Hana cheered, her blue eyes gleaming with genuine excitement. "It is the very first official piece of memorabilia from our racing facility, and I bet it will hold immense value in the future, fufu."

Nichole stared at the thrilled blonde with completely dead, unamused eyes. "Sister Hana, at this exact moment, I cannot possibly imagine you functioning as a genius medical doctor. It feels far more like you have transformed into a dedicated high priestess of a dangerous racing religion, sigh."

Before the conversation could continue, the security team guided our group deep into the interior corridors, clearing the track before the massive waves of fans could completely fill the stands and the concessions area.

Inside the private Tang VIP suite overlooking the stadium seating blocks, my family began making themselves thoroughly comfortable.

Knock! Knock!

Zoe, who was standing guard outside the doorway, cracked the heavy timber open to catch my attention. "Young Master, your cousin has formally requested an audience to speak with you privately. It is Scott, not Helen."

"Inform him that I will step out to meet him in a single moment," I replied.

After taking a brief second to assure my worried girls that everything was perfectly fine, I stepped out into the quiet hallway to discover exactly what Scott wanted to say to me.

Exiting the security perimeter of my VIP suite, I gave Zoe a brief nod. "I will be stepping away for a short while, so there is absolutely no need to worry. Hello, Scott. Take a walk with me."

Scott, dressed in simple denim jeans and a light jacket layered over a crisp blue shirt, offered a silent nod. His posture was completely different from his past arrogant self. He kept his hands buried deep within his pockets, falling into step beside me without uttering a single word of protest.

Soon, the two of us entered the massive main lobby, where attendees could purchase all kinds of commercial goods, official merchandise, or even a paid date. I took a spot in a short queue to buy some fresh popcorn and sodas before turning my attention directly to him.

"I recognize that exact look in your eyes, Scott," I said, keeping my tone perfectly conversational. "I stared at that identical expression for years whenever I looked in a mirror. Tell me, what is actively on your mind?"

"The moment today concludes, I am never returning to Eurasia," Scott answered flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I am officially relocating to America to begin working directly under Laura Long."

A wave of genuine surprise washed through me at his blunt declaration. I couldn't fathom a single reason why he would willingly share his future itinerary with me.

Sensing my immediate confusion, Scott continued. "She is currently preparing to throw a massive welcome-to-America celebration in your honor, and she is actively inviting every single one of your underworld friends to attend."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Then why bother telling me about her plans?"

"Because I want absolute revenge, and I won't stand a chance of securing it if you eliminate me before I can execute my play," Scott countered, his gaze hardening. "I refuse to leave this world until I force the singular person who orchestrated this entire nightmare to suffer. You, me, your mother Sally Tang, my aunt, and absolutely every single thing you and I have systematically destroyed... it all originated with one person. So yes, I want revenge. You are perfectly happy because you secured your vengeance, but you never actually finished the true execution. Why? Why did you allow Laura Long to live?"

I shook my head slowly, letting out a sharp breath. "Taking Laura's life was something I wanted more than anything else in this world, Scott. But the reality is that she is Victoria's biological sister, and she is Ashley's mother. I simply could not bring myself to be the one to end her life. I am sorry, Scott."

A bitter, humorous grin pulled at the corner of Scott's lips. "Rick Lee just uttered the words 'I am sorry' and actually meant it. I think I truly must have lost my mind to even imagine hearing those words escape your lips, ha-ha. Regardless, it was Laura who forced my mother to execute every single plot against your mother, Sally Tang, and against you. Make no mistake, I am not offering you an apology, because I still thoroughly hate your guts. But I hate Laura significantly more."

"So, you are truly planning to never look back?" I questioned, studying his posture. "What about your two ex-wives and your children?"

"Sigh, I am far too gone to ever function as a proper father or husband for them," Scott admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Just promise to grant me two specific conditions, and our karmic debt will be completely squared away."

I remained entirely silent, waiting to hear his terms.

"Even though I absolutely despise you, I know for a fact that you fiercely protect your family," Scott stated firmly. "So, ensure my two children are taken care of in the future. As for the second condition... when our paths inevitably cross again in America, do not kill me personally until I have successfully stabbed her in the back. That is all I have to say to you. I'm leaving. For what it was worth... you were a worthy rival, Rick."

I stood perfectly still, watching his silhouette disappear into the crowded lobby. For a fleeting microsecond, a sense of genuine admiration washed through me. Picking yourself up from absolute rock bottom and carving out a new path is an incredibly difficult feat to achieve.

As the turbulent memories of my past history with Scott played out in a vivid loop inside my mind, a pair of slender arms wrapped tightly around my waist from behind. The familiar, comforting scent of Mei washed over my senses as she pressed her body against my back.

"I think you are the only true anchor left in his life that he could actually turn to," Mei murmured softly, her voice dripping with affection. "Even Scott recognizes how wonderful of a man you truly are from behind his hatred. He even chose to leave the ultimate safety of his own flesh and blood directly in your hands. I love you so much, Rick. I don't say that because of his words, but because you possess a flawless understanding of right from wrong. Come with me right now. I know exactly what will make your heavy heart happy."

Mei caught my hand in hers, guiding me away from the bustling lobby and into a highly private, restricted room. Determined to erase the lingering tension from my chest, she thoroughly showed me the depth of her devotion with her passion, completely blowing my mind.